So if you catch a small one off of a channel seawall, and can't reach the water, you must cut the line? This is better for a small tarpon than netting it quickly, removing the hook, and then releasing?

"Can I remove a tarpon from the water for a photo?
A tarpon that does not have a tarpon tag attached to it can be temporarily possessed only for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches fork length must remain in the water."

"Can I remove a tarpon from the water for a photo?
A tarpon that does not have a tarpon tag attached to it can be temporarily possessed only for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches fork length must remain in the water."

Apparently what "in the water" seems to be open to debate.

"must remain in the water" is not open for debate.

On this page the FWC inadequately provided the reader with ambiguous terms that have been misinterpreted by many because the FWC on that particular web page did not include the simple word "completely" in "must remain in the water".

(3) “Tarpon” means a fish of the species Megalops atlanticus, or any part thereof.

So when the law says "Tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the water" BY LEGAL DEFINITION OF TARPON THAT IS THE WHOLE TARPON, THE COMPLETE TARPON, 100% OF THE TARPON. THERE IS NO AMBIGUITY HERE. When the law says tarpon over 40 inches must remain in the water and the legal definition of Tarpon includes any part thereof then that unambiguously includes all of the tarpon and not just part of the tarpon.

This rule amendment will convey that tarpon will be managed as a catch and release only fishery, establish tarpon as a hook and line only fishery, remove the provision that allows for a recreational bag limit of tarpon, extend tarpon rules into adjacent federal waters, reduce the transport and shipment possession allowance to one tarpon per person, and allow temporary possession for photography, measurement of length and girth, and taking a scientific sample, provided that all tarpon greater than 40 inches fork length must be kept completely in the water, and all tarpon must be released immediately following the authorized activities in the area where caught.

Under "Summary":

68B-32.004 will be amended to remove the provision that allows for a recreational bag limit of tarpon, and allow temporary possession for photography, measurement of length and girth, and taking a scientific sample, provided that all tarpon greater than 40 inches fork length must be kept completely in the water, and all tarpon must be released immediately after the authorized activities in the area where caught.

"Completely" would be impossible unless you cut the line instead of removing the hook as part of the head would almost always be out of the water while removing the hook. Most laws are written purposely with gray areas. It keeps lawyers and judges in business.

"Completely" would be impossible unless you cut the line instead of removing the hook as part of the head would almost always be out of the water while removing the hook. Most laws are written purposely with gray areas. It keeps lawyers and judges in business.

Completely means just that.
The FWC does not think "completely" is impossible as the FWC is now mandating "completely".

"Completely" is not even close to impossible, it is very easy to do and it fact it is now the law. If you cannot comply with this law by leaning over the side of the boat then get yourself a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or an 8 foot dehooking device that slides down over the line/leader to the hook and allows the hook to be easily removed even 8 feet away from the angler while the tarpon is COMPLETELY in the water, simple as that.

The following is an excerpt from the FWC website Survival rates for some Florida fishes (Techniques to Reduce Catch and Release Mortality)

Controlled studies have shown that most fish released after hook-and-line capture, survive. Researchers working in Boca Grande Pass tagged 27 tarpon with sonic transmitters and found that 26 of these hook-and-line-caught fish survived. The one fish that died had been lifted from the water for a prerelease photograph...

I also saw this on the FWC website under the heading, Tarpon, fishing tips:

Other tips
Do not drag tarpon over the gunnel of a boat.
Use a dehooking tool.
Tarpon smaller than 40” should be supported horizontally when removed from the water. Tarpon larger than 40” must remain in the water.
Do not fish for tarpon when large predatory sharks are in the area feeding. If sharks show up, move to another fishing location

Ambiguous: study shows that lifting the tarpon could possibly injure the fish, yet on the tips,there's an example how to lift smaller tarpon from the water. The only thing I could guess is that the study were researching larger tarpon?

Completely means just that.
The FWC does not think "completely" is impossible as the FWC is now mandating "completely".

"Completely" is not even close to impossible, it is very easy to do and it fact it is now the law. If you cannot comply with this law by leaning over the side of the boat then get yourself a 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or an 8 foot dehooking device that slides down over the line/leader to the hook and allows the hook to be easily removed even 8 feet away from the angler while the tarpon is COMPLETELY in the water, simple as that.

Get real. You're so full of crap. You don't revive a single fish then? I'll pop the hook with pliers, get a quick picture and then revive him until he kicks hard.

The following is an excerpt from the FWC website Survival rates for some Florida fishes (Techniques to Reduce Catch and Release Mortality)

Controlled studies have shown that most fish released after hook-and-line capture, survive. Researchers working in Boca Grande Pass tagged 27 tarpon with sonic transmitters and found that 26 of these hook-and-line-caught fish survived. The one fish that died had been lifted from the water for a prerelease photograph...

I also saw this on the FWC website under the heading, Tarpon, fishing tips:

Other tips
Do not drag tarpon over the gunnel of a boat.
Use a dehooking tool.
Tarpon smaller than 40” should be supported horizontally when removed from the water. Tarpon larger than 40” must remain in the water.
Do not fish for tarpon when large predatory sharks are in the area feeding. If sharks show up, move to another fishing location

Ambiguous: study shows that lifting the tarpon could possibly injure the fish, yet on the tips,there's an example how to lift smaller tarpon from the water. The only thing I could guess is that the study were researching larger tarpon?

Maybe FWC could clarify. Thanks.

That study is garbage. Sweet a whole 27 tarpon - get real. I love the fish and take care of them but anyone who fishes for tarpon at all and then argues that they aren't "hurting" them by fishing for them and that photographing the fish is the "real" problem is ignorant. If you care so much about the tarpon don't fish for them. Period. It's double-speak to fish for them yet claim that a quick photo is the issue. Let me clarify I'm not for pulling 100lb fish into the boat but a boat side picture holding the fish by the jaw is the least of the tarpon's worries after being yanked on to exhaustion for 30 minutes.

There is no rule or law stating that any fish swimming in Florida waters cannot be removed from the water except for the sawfish! The recommendation or best practice is that if possible, keep the fish in the water but if you need to remove it to retrieve your tackle and or take a photo, do so with as little damage to the fish as possible.

A tarpon that does not have a tarpon tag attached to it can be temporarily possessed only for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches fork length must remain in the water.

That study is garbage. Sweet a whole 27 tarpon - get real. I love the fish and take care of them but anyone who fishes for tarpon at all and then argues that they aren't "hurting" them by fishing for them and that photographing the fish is the "real" problem is ignorant. If you care so much about the tarpon don't fish for them. Period. It's double-speak to fish for them yet claim that a quick photo is the issue. Let me clarify I'm not for pulling 100lb fish into the boat but a boat side picture holding the fish by the jaw is the least of the tarpon's worries after being yanked on to exhaustion for 30 minutes.

Yep, pretty soon the regulations will say you can only fight the tarpon for 15 minutes then you will have to cut your line and release the fish. Stupid. Anyone that catches a nice tarpon should be allowed to get a decent photo with the fish. That regulation needs revision.

The intent of this law is obvious, they want to stop anglers from hoisting a huge tarpon by its lip or gills for that "trophy" shot. The physical strain it puts on the fish is detrimental to its health. Leave big ones in the water and take that pic boat side. this saves the fish and everyone will applaud you for your conservation of the the resource. Smaller tarpon handle as you would a redfish or other game fish.